European Union Demands Release of “Political Prisoners”

The EU’s parliament passed a resolution this week calling for the immediate release of Venezuela’s political prisoners while further meddling in the South American nation’s domestic economic and political affairs.

Caracas, June 9th 2016 (venezuelanalysis.com) - The European Union reached a non-binding resolution Wednesday calling for the immediate release of Venezuela’s “political prisoners”.

The bloc also criticized the Venezuelan government for allegedly not respecting the nation’s constitution nor procedures to allow a recall referendum despite the opposition’s collecting of 1.3 million signatures last month to begin the process. The parliament also expressed its plans to send a delegation to Venezuela to facilitate a national dialogue.

The resolution was passed with 501 votes in favor, 94 against and 73 abstentions. The EU purports that its objective is meant to find a “constructive solution” to the “deteriorating” situation in Venezuela.

The parliament’s main parties decided on the resolution’s content and rejected amendments proposed by left-leaning parties Podemos and Izquierda Unida (IU). "We [Podemos] have abstained because...no other proposals from other groups have been allowed, including our own," responded Tania González, Podemos representative. González continued calling the resolution a "ploy" to distract from European nations' internal problems.

Meanwhile, IU voted against the resolution. The party's representative, Javier Couso, defended IU's decision declaring the resolution "full of falseness". Couso agrees that "dialogue is the way, but always within the respect of sovereignty."

The EU bloc's resolution names opposition leaders such as Leopoldo López, Antonio Ledezma and Daniel Ceballos, among the 2,000 people they allege are under house arrest, in prison or on probation for political reasons. The three named above are notorious for their direct ties to the US Embassy and meticulously orchestrated violence against the Venezuelan people.

In their statement, the EU also highlights what it refers to as a “serious humanitarian crisis” in Venezuela citing the lack of access to certain food and medicines in addition to national rationing of water and electricity use. The EU suggests that the Venezuelan government has prevented humanitarian aid coming into the country because of “inefficient governance, and to high crime rates due to impunity.”

In response to their concerns over the South American nation’s economy, the European bloc called for President Nicolás Maduro to craft economic reforms together with the opposition-led National Assembly. The EU also tasked foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to draft an assistance plan for Venezuela.

“A solution to the crisis can only be found through dialogue with all levels of government, democratic opposition and society”, the EU continued in their statement celebrating UNASUR’s present mediation efforts. In recent days, former Prime Minister of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero who is part of the leadership of these efforts also visited López in prison, the first international dignitary to do so.

"In these uncertain times, Venezuelanalysis is a crucial resource for reliable and grounded reporting on Venezuelan politics." Read more

Sujatha Fernandes. Professor of Political Economy and Sociology, University of Sydney

“Venezuela Analysis is an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to know what is happening today in one of Latin America's most dynamic countries". Read more

Oliver Stone. Film director, producer and screenwritter.

"Venezuela Analysis has been an essential tool not just for those trying to keep up to date with developments in the Bolivarian revolution, but also because it provides an invaluable space for critical discussion about the process". Read more

Marta Harnecker. Chilean journalist, psychologist, and writter.

"Venezuelanalysis has been an indispensable source for many of us for well over a decade." Read more

Tariq Ali. Historian, writer and filmmaker, editor at New Left Review

"I can't think of another website on the web more deserving of support." Read more

John Pilger. Documentary Filmmaker (“War on Democracy”) and author of Freedom Next Time (Bantam, 2006)

“Venezuelanalysis is an invaluable source of information, a tribune of independent analysis and honest reporting.” Read more

Greg Grandin. History Professor, New York University and author of Empire’s Workshop (Metropolitan Books, 2006)

"For Latin America solidarity activists in Australia, venezuelanalysis.com is undoubtedly one of the most valuable sources of information and analysis of developments in Venezuela’s Bolivarian revolution". Read more

“Venezuelanalysis is a refreshing corrective to the one-sided reporting in the establishment media on Venezuela." Read more

Steve Ellner. Author and professor at the Universidad de Oriente and the Misión Sucre.

"Venezuelanalysis.com is an extremely useful alternative news source that explores developments and issues in Venezuela that are critically important for understanding the political and social changes there". Read more

Alex Main. Senior Associate for International Policy, Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), Washington D.C.